In an hour and a half we are heading to the airport. I just checked the weather and it looks like we are in for a lot of rain this week. Rain makes things a lot more difficult. That will be a huge prayer request that we can get what needs to be done and that the rain doesn’t keep people away from our village clinics. With that said, I am confident that we will see God move even with the weather.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for us this week. Being able to spend the week with my daughter Katie and to watch God work in her and use her, will be one of the things I look forward to most. This is my 14 th time in Guatemala and the second time with hillcrestcrc. I am also excited to see what God has done and will do again in our church family through this trip.

Thanks to so many who are lifting me and the team up in prayer. Thanks especially to my wife, Kristy for the support she always gives to me and the time she will spend updating the pictures and managing the blog for us.

I look forward to posting more and sharing this trip with you this week.

Kevin,
I am so excited for you, Katie and the rest of the team! During the prayer time this morning I felt such a sense of peace surrounding the team. Praying for you as you once lead a team to do battle and witness the Tipping point of Eternity! Praying for safe travels and for many lives to be changed. I love you so very much and am so grateful for you. It is so incredible that you and Katie can finally experience Guatemala together. Praying that this is a special time for both of you.
In His grip,
Kris

Kev!
Have fun down there! I’ll be praying for you and the team. I have so many good memories with you in Guatemala! Thank you for helping others and always taking such good care of everyone. You are a true blessing to everyone you come in contact with.

Good night sweet heart! I am heading to bed but will wake up several times tonight, I’m sure, to pray and check to see if you have arrived. You are such a blessing to me and to so many. Thank you for your leadership, your passion for the lost and for all the little things you do to make a trip this big go smoothly for everyone. Praying for ease thru customs, safe travels to the base and a good night sleep before you head to the village. I love you. Give Katie a hug and a kiss from me.
Love you more,
Kristy

Good morning Kevin,
Once again God doesn’t disappoint! What an incredible lesson for the team to realize that this is not an ordinary trip and that Satan will try but our God has already won. He is the Calmer of the Storms! I pray that as you leave this morning to head to the village that there is a hedge of protection around each team member, so that they can be the most effective and passionate voice for Jesus’ love. That they can let Jesus shine thru all their actions. Praying for strength, as they will be tired. Praying for boldness, as there may be fear.
A loud blast of thunder just shook the house as I was typing the last line. I think God is having fun showing off…lol 🙂
Have a wonderful day and I look forward to reading about all that happens.
I love you and will be praying continuously today!
In His grip,
Kristy

Kevin, your gift of taking us along on this journey is such a blessing! I remember those early years of you going to Guatemala without any ability to communicate with us back home. This is so much better and i am very grateful for it. I can just picture you in the early morning quiet, with the mountains all around, as you wrote this mornings blog. Thank you for putting the extra time in to take not just the team of 30, but the hundreds and hundreds of us here in Michigan and the friends and family other states who are reading the blog on this grand adventure.

Kevin, I just uploaded 190 pictures. I think I got them all. Had a bit of an issue downloading them and making sure I wasn’t downloading the same pics. It was very helpful having you add the number in the subject line (wed pics 1, wed pics 2 etc) Keep doing that . So grateful that the rain held off for you. Praying that happens again for stucco day! It is great to see the team interacting so well with each other and with the Guatemalans. Praying for continued unity! Love you so very much and am praying for large group time tonight!!
I love you so much,
Kris

Good morning sweetheart! Once again your post is my morning devotion and I am so blessed by it. Praying that today the team looks at the sacrificial giving of themselves as the worship it is. Praying for strength, safety and the building of relationships thru applying of the Succulent Salmon Stucco! I love you and will be praying all day for you.
In His grip,
Kris

Check it out! The Guatemala blog! How many years ago was our trip, Kev? 6? Great memories…wish I was going along! Definitely envious of the worship time outside overlooking the mountains. We’ll be praying for you and the team as you build homes and build relationships. We hope you guys have an amazing and safe trip down there. Say hello to Herman for me if you see him!

Hi Kev, I got all the pictures uploaded and they look great! How fun to see all the smiling faces with the stucco all over! Praying that you have a wonderful night of singing and praise with the group. Please tell Katie to say something on her blog. Her brothers and I would love to hear from her. 🙂 I love you so much. Good night
Kris

Thank you for taking the time to share so vividly and let us vicariously share your, Katie’s, and your team’s experiences. We are grateful and proud how you give so much of yourself to others and especially your Maker. We are praying for strength, health, safety, joy, peace and power for you. Know that we love you. Mom

Good morning sweetheart, It is such a blessing to wake up and be able to read your beautiful heart-felt words. I’m praying that today is filled with God Sightings and the tipping point of Eternity is achieved over and over again. I love you and am looking forward to hear more of the stories.
Love, Kris

Kevin, I am so glad that the Dedications went so well! It is so much fun seeing the pictures and reading the stories on the team members pages…then your post always wrap everything up beautifully. Praying that the singing and sharing tonight is exceptional. I so wish I could be there to hear the glorious voices singing.

Thanks for sending the pictures! They look great. The large group picture looks better on my computer then when I uploaded it to the site…not sure why. Also I thought you would get a kick out of some interesting data on the blog….as of right now there have been 40,541 views from 630 different computers/people. Each day the number gets bigger and bigger as it is shared. The team is far larger than the 30 serving in Guatemala! 🙂

Praying that people stay healthy and that tomorrow’s med clinic goes well. I love you and wish you a great night of sleep!
Love, Kris

It was a very good day yesterday. It is awesome seeing Katie in her element. She did so good yesterday. You would have been so proud of her. What a lot of stories she is going to have. Pray for me today as yesterday I started to feel sick with a head cold. I started to take meds to hopfully keep it a bay. I have been sleeping well -just not long. Almost 5 hours last night. THis is a great team and they are working very hard. Cant believe it is already at this point.

Can’t wait to see you all! Love you tons! -Gotta go to sort bags for today!

Good Morning Kevin,
God is Good and truly at work in Guatemala!!
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News”
Blessings as you continue to bring that GOOD News, as you be the hands and feet of Jesus to the precious people there. Continued prayers for you and the team!
bp

Hi Kevin
What a blessing you have been in leading groups down to Guatemala!!! Once again you are following Gods leading. Praise to God!!! We are so thankful for the impact these trips have had on not only our girls, but also in influencing Bill and I to go to Guatemala too. Love reading your blogs, posts and looking at all the pictures!! Brings back a lot of wonderful memories! Praying for God’s Spirit to continue to change lives for Him. Praying for continued Blessings for you and the rest of the team!!!
Bill and Lisa Van Dyken

Kevin, thanks for taking the time to write a bit to us. I know how crazy busy you are down there. I’m sorry you ate starting to feel sick. I’m praying that you feel better soon and it doesn’t affect you to much. Praying for another amazing day building relationships,sharing Christ’s live and having fun with the kids. Praying for safe travel and changed lives.
Love you, Kris

You are in my prayers as you travel the rough roads of Guatamala to the coast. May God be the groups protector and when angels are needed along the way they will be there to “push” you through!! Thanks for your words of wisdom from God each morning as you awake to a new day of serving HIM! It does not get any better than that in this life! 🙏🏾

Hi Kevin, I have been praying for you and for your strength and energy and rest. I’m so thankful for all you have done with and for this team and the people there. I have been praying for the worship times too, and I am sure that God is using you and filling you up with His Spirit. Thank you for your service!!

Kevin,
Happy Father’s Day!!! I was trying to remember if this is the 4th or 5th Father’s Day you spent in Guatemala?! At least this time you have Katie with you! You are a tremendous daddy to our kids and we are so blessed by you. There are so many things you do well as a dad (you love our kids, spend time with them, have incredible relationships with them, are goofy etc) but the thing I am most grateful for is that because of you our kids have a beautiful picture of their Heavenly Father! Too many kids when they hear about God the Father, have an ugly and twisted vision of Him simply because of their earthly father.
You have given them the gift of being able to imagine their Heavenly Father thru your actions.
You have shown them what unconditional love looks like…in action…time and time again.
You have shown them that even in punishment there is love but there are always consequences.
You have shown them grace and forgiveness.
You have shown them that our home is safe refuge from the storms of their lives.
…and most importantly you have shown them your relationship with His son, Jesus Christ.
No matter how many times you and I have messed up and made mistakes in our parenting (& we’ve made many!) you have always been the one to lead your family back to Jesus, your very best friend.
As each of us have been able to go to Guatemala with you, we have seen and understood, why you were called away from us time and time again to serve the teens God placed with you for a season of their lives and for the precious people of Guatemala.
Thank you my love, for being such a wonderful daddy to our kids and for loving all of us so much. I’m so glad that Katie is with you today. Give her an extra big hug from me. I love you.

Thank you for letting us know that you got back to the base safely! You know how much that means to me. 🙂 Praising God for such a wonderful night for you and all the team. I bet the team is so happy to have a day they can sleep in. I hope that you take advantage of that as well….but knowing you… 😉
Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday,
Kris

Happy Father’s Day Dad. I am so happy to have you as my father. You have always been there for me no matter what. You are always encouraging me to do my very best. Without you I have no idea where I would be right now. You mean the world to me Dad. I love you so very much. Happy Fathers Day.
-Chris

Kris, thanks for the beautiful words on the post and on the fathers day card. I cant wait to see you on Tuesday. Thanks for all you are doing on the blog and encourageing and praying for us. I love you tons and tons. Katie is doing an amazing job. gotta go now. cant wait to see you!
Kevin. -Give Chris and Josh a hug!

Chris -Thanks for the note! It is a privelege to be your dad! -Love ya!
Josh -Thanks for being a great son. Love you!

Feliz Dia de los Padres, Papa!
I’m so jealous of Katie that she gets to be there with you on this special day to wish you a happy fathers day in person. At least there is this blog and the note that I sent with you 🙂 I love you, Dad, and it is such a blessing to be your son. It seems that you always know how to go about a situation or decision, and your wise guidance has certainly helped me through so much more than you probably will ever know. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you; yes in the sense that without you, I wouldn’t exist, but also in that you have encouraged me, supported me, believed in me, and been there for me when I was in those darkest places where no end (at least to me) was apparent. You helped me find a way through that darkness just as you have helped so many other students find a way. I love you lot’s, Dad, and I am so very proud of you. Keep letting God use and work through you!

Good morning sweetheart, wow I can’t believe that you are on your last day! Another incredible week of serving others and having your own bucket filled. Thank you for your faithful service and leadership to all the teens and adults you have ministered to over the years. It is awesome that Katie is able to be there with you. It make my heart so happy. I can’t wait to get you home so I can have a solid night of sleep! 🙂 I swear there are more noises in the house when you are gone. I love you and am so proud of you. Praying that today goes well. Are you taking Analy with you to Antigua? Have you been able to see her at all? Praying that tonight goes well.
Love you more,
Kris

Thank you, again, for how you keep us back home informed. Your writing helps us understand what you see, do, and feel, and makes us part of your experience. We have been praying for your strength, wisdom, and peace; now we pray for a safe trip home and we anticipate hearing so much more. Love you so much, Mom